Monthly Archives: October 2023

Siskiyou County X Days

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SISKIYOU X DAYS
Pops is pleased to participate in SISKIYOU X DAYS. SISKIYOU X DAYS is a ten-day all-county open studio/art experience event featuring and connecting the diverse and unique talent of Siskiyou. For a guide book of Siskiyou X days, click here. 

Thursday, November 2, 6-9 pm
Louis Gustafson is a Native Hip Hop Artist from Northern California. Pit River Tribal member who specializes in Rap, spoken word and as a facilitator.

Damilola Afolabi, affectionately known as Dami, is a remarkable individual whose journey from Lagos, Nigeria, to Redding, California, has shaped him into a unique and multifaceted artist and community leader. Dami’s mission goes beyond personal achievement; he has a heart dedicated to seeing people set free and made whole. He believes that his artistic endeavors are not just for his own glory but for the empowerment and upliftment of others. He is not merely an artist but a bridge builder, mending fractured relationships and fostering connections through the medium of dance.His willingness to connect with others and foster genuine relationships speaks volumes about his character. As an independent performing artist, Dami’s work extends far beyond the stage. He is a culture enthusiast, a storyteller, an actor, a dancer, a teacher, and an activist. His art is deeply rooted in his Nigerian heritage and informed by his experiences as a Black man in the United States. Through his Afrofusion movement, storytelling, music, poetry, and visual art, Dami tackles both political and personal themes, using his talents as a vehicle for social commentary and change. Furthermore, Dami wears many hats in his community. He is a community organizer and the founder of AfroLatino Nights, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting diversity and cultural representation in Northern California. This movement brings together people from various backgrounds through their shared love for diverse cultures, music, food, and dance, fostering unity in a region where “minority” groups often struggle to be seen and heard.

Maria Schafer Quartet October 19

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Looking forward to hosting Maria Schafer and her quartet on Thursday, October 19 at 7 pm. Ticket available here.

♫ Follow on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/43tCYWd
♫ Bandcamp: https://bit.ly/YBC-MariaSchafer_on_BandCamp
♫ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@mariaschafermusic

“A knockout debut… leaves you wondering what she can’t do.” – The New York City Jazz Record

“…makes you beg for more of the same. Impressive foray.” – Jazz Weekly

A rising star in the Los Angeles vocal jazz scene, singer Maria Schafer seamlessly blends a jubilant, “journey-bound” jazz mixture of swing, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban concoctions for an evocative program of heartfelt and enchanting tunes. Her remarkably memorable originals, velvety sweet vocals, and beguiling poise help listeners land somewhere between tasting the best whiskey-laden cocktail of their life and falling in love.
Maria spent two years touring as the featured vocalist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, has performed at festivals including the Monterey Jazz Festival and Montreal Jazz Festival, won awards at the Next Generation Jazz Festival and Reno Jazz Festival, garnered ensemble wins in the Student Downbeat Awards, and appeared on performing arts center stages across the USA and Canada, Riga Jazz Stage in Latvia, and Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Blue Note Tokyo, and Blue Note Nagoya in Japan. Her two full-length albums feature folk-tinged jazz originals and new-fashioned standards and are played regularly on radio stations across North America including KKJZ (Los Angeles), KNKX (Washington), KCSU (Colorado), WDCB (Chicago), and CBC Radio in Canada.
In October, Maria will be touring the USA West Coast spanning jazz clubs, radio stations, and performing arts centers in CA, OR, and WA.
On the timing of the tour, Maria shares that this tour will “be a sneak peek of my next album featuring my newest songs, expanded instrumentation, musical alchemy, and continued musical growth. My songbook has joyously developed with original songs melding jazz and world genres, spanning the heartfelt to the cheeky and playful- but I am also still indulging my growing taste for exploring and arranging lesser-known jazz standards.”
Though the October performance tour is not Ms. Schafer’s first foray through the western USA, this time she travels with more friends in tow than on previous visits. Having played many years together in the greater Los Angeles areas, previous tours centered on a duo with Ventura-native guitarist Shane Savala, and this time Schafer and Savala will be joined by bassist David Reynoso and drummer Karo Galadjian, all based in southern California. Together they breathe life into Maria’s compositions and arrangements as well as originals written together by Schafer and Savala, creating a bed of joyous jazz interplay in support of Maria’s lithe voice and adventurous yet intimate lyrical and melodic interpretations